Victims of Hamas rocket fire after Hamas ends calm Dec-2008
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Victims of Hamas rocket fire after Hamas ends calm Dec-2008

  • 12/27/2008
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    Hamas ends calm, Israel responds 

    Hamas decided to end the calm in effect since mid-June 2008 on Friday (19 December). Dozens of Kassam rockets are again raining down on Israel on a daily basis, including longer-range and deadlier Grad Kaytusha rockets.

    In response to t

    Hamas ends calm, Israel responds 

    Hamas decided to end the calm in effect since mid-June 2008 on Friday (19 December). Dozens of Kassam rockets are again raining down on Israel on a daily basis, including longer-range and deadlier Grad Kaytusha rockets.

    In response to this barrage, on 27 December Israel launched an attackon targets affiliated with the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip. The targets included command centers, training camps, various Hamas installations, rocket manufacturing facilities and storage warehouses. 

    Defense Minister Ehud Barak laid out the three objectives of the offensive: dealing Hamas a forceful blow, fundamentally changing the situation in Gaza, and bringing to the cessation of rocket attacks against Israeli citizens.

    Hamas responded with an escalation of rocket fire, with the longer-range Grad rockets for the first time hitting as far as Ashdod, Ofakim and Yavne.

    Sderot home hit by rocket, residents wounded and frightened, Grad missiles lands in Ashkelon street - Dec 29-30, 2008 (Photos: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye)

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    ​​​Since December 27, four Israelis have been killed by rocket and mortar fire from Gaza:

    Dec 27, 2008 - Beber Vaknin, 58, of Netivot was killed when a rocket fired from Gaza hit an apartment building in Netivot.

    Dec 29, 2008 - Hani al-Mahdi, 27, of Aroar, a Beduin settlement in the Negev was killed when a Grad-type missile fired from Gaza exploded at a construction site in Ashkelon. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Dec 29, 2008 - Irit Sheetrit, 39, of Ashdod was killed and several wounded when a Grad rocket exploded in the center of Ashdod. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Dec 29, 2008 - Warrant Officer Lutfi Nasraladin, 38, of the Druze town of Daliat el-Carmel was killed by a mortar attack on a military base near Nahal Oz.​